The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-10-13


Who Gauge Each Action by the Rule of
Laek-Affaid Of Canaries and Pigeons
A wagon Load Of Empty Barrels.
roepyrtoAssd. iss7.i
Besides its other peculiarities, the theat-
sical profession is saturated with super.
otition. For class whose chances at
mental advancement are 30 great actors
Ind actresses have more queer notions to
The square inch than any other set OF
civilized people in the world. An Irish
grandmother or . Teutonic Walpurgis
night believer Is not marker to player
whose mind runs on omens. Every busi-
ness undertaking has its results de-
termined in his eyes by some unseen in
Auence. The Hibernian dame is content
10 apply her superstitions to things spir-
itual II she walks zigzag through a
Geld she firmly believes the devil cannot
catch her, or should she for the first time
Spy new moon, II she has the presence of
mind to turn suddenly and look at it
straight over her right shoulder while she
tosses . stone over the left shoulder, she
b In great luck and will have
plenty of It before the next
moon shows up. The German may have
any quantity Of curious opinions regard
ing gnomes and their doings, but his be-
lief ceases there. Not 90 the theatrical
votary. The commonest acts of his
daily life are eauged by good or bad luck
signs. The only equal he has is the
negro voudoo victim who carries his
''cunger" as . protection against evil.
Actors have an antipathy to the number
thirteen that is so deeply rooted in them
that nothing but death can temper it.
They will not sleep in q room with that
number on 1t, much less sitting to table
where there are only the bakers dozen.
Common enough among them is the be-
uef that II they 60 under ladder they
viii have bad luck. The handsomest
purse that could be offered Frank Kilday
could not induce him to walk beneath
this means of aerial travel.
There are actresses. Clara Morris and
Fanny Davenport among them, who
would not perform in a theatre where
there was canary bird or pigeon.
They despise the very sight of pets, and
consider their presence in theatre an
infsllible sign that the money receipts
for the engagement they will play will
be miserably small. On what lines
they have right to argue to this effect
they know not themselves; nevertheless,
they are answering in their belief
and will on every occasion insist that it
viii be made paramount to the wishes of
all others. The birds have to 60 if they
play. The load Of empty barrels is a
threadbsre superstition and prophesies
rows of empty seats. Eddie Chapman
would run ten miles to the detriment of
bursting blood.vessel to get out the way
Of wagon of empty barrels SO firmly
does he imagine that his vision. If crossed
BY them, would anticipate dire things in
the near future. He is disciple of the
black-cst theory and strong in his asser-
lions that an ebony-colored feline, devoid
Of even single hair Of light hue, is the
very best sort Of good luck to a theatre
and the company playing therein. Alone
hs is not in his quaint notion that such
. cat, should It stray into place of
amusement, ought to be hailed with de-
light. So deeply rooted is the feel
ing In the mind of Chapman
that whenever he has q chance on the
public streets he will kidnap black cat
and make for the theatre where he is
playing with alacrity. II he can get the
murderer Of nightly comfort inside he is
glad oven to the fullness of his soul, for
its august presence predicates many
shekels into the Golfers of the treasurer.
Several years ago, while playing Rollo
IN the opera Of "The Mascot" at the
Academy Of Music in Baltimore, with
Harry Brown and VIM. B. Brand, he
started for . stroll through the town one
pleasant afternoon. Hardly had he gone
tive blocks when he saw q hideous, ugly
and the admiration Of his whole being
was excited. He made for that cat with
purpose Of capturing 1t, and that cat
made for an alley to escape the infatu.
ated pursuer. A lively chase ensued to
the delight Of q crowd of men and boys,
who yelled ct the sight of the well-dressed,
chubby comedian gyrating in his efforts
70 corral puss. By dint of hard
work Chapman caught the cat and
hugged It In his arms. With perspira.
ton streaming down his cheeks he got
bearinge on the Academy and cut tracks
for II. His arrival was the source of
feeling Of momentary uneasiness among
the attaches lest something fearful had
happened him. When he recited the cat
wrinkle they excused him. Sure enough,
there was Q tremendous attendance at
the house that night. A load of hay is
another object Of solicitude. An actor
who has glimpse of one, and who closes
his eyes until the vehicle passes, will
have the satisfaction of having any wish
he makes realized, 90 the Interpretation
Of that omen goes. If he opens his eyes
before the wagon passes, the charm of
the belief is destroyed. Sometimes hay
wagon VIII turn up Q side street after the
performer has had his first view Of 1t.
Plenty Of actors win follow It with
closed eyes until It does pass them.
The standard music played in the
tragedy Of macbeth" furnishes the pro-
fsssion with favorite tunes. Every actor
and actress up in legitimate parts is able
70 hum the airs; yet II one Of these tunes
10 whistled or hummed in Q theatre, q
0ifortune will occur of which q small
audience win be the least. To raise an
umbrella In play y-house 10 ghastly trea-
con and an accepted display Of desire to
precipitate bad luck on the building and
those employed In 1t. It ID NO uncom-
mon sight to see member of company
that n rahas painO atom tha an. viu, - a.